Hildegarde's Holiday

nt upon it. "One, two, purl, chain, slip; one, two, purl"-when suddenly descended upon her a whirlwind, a vision of sparkling eyes and "te

nds. "My dear Hilda!" she said plaintively, "you quite take my breath aw

ly, but dropping on one knee beside the old lady, and stroking her soft hand apologetically. "He says he will take care of me; and Ro

my dear," she said hesitatingly. "Yes-you

arden hat for a blue "sailor," whirled downstairs again, kissed Rose on both cheeks, dropped another kiss on Miss Wealthy's cap, and w

ooch. Seeing this, Rose came quietly, picked up the crochet-hook, and sat down to admire the work, and wonder if she could learn the stitch. "Perhaps som

in, and the flush passed away, and her thoughts passed pleasantly from "one, two, purl, slip," to gloxinias and cyclamen,

h the box of flowers stowed safely under the seat. She was in high spirits, and determined to enjoy every

kindly. "Quite a head o' steam you carr

lic, isn't it, Jeremiah? How beautiful everyt

. Pleasant, hayin' time is. Now, thar's a field!" He pointed with his whip to a

ield?" asked Hilde

s neighborhood! There's a power o' grass there. Well, sirs! grass must be cut, and hay must be eat,-there

ed to be only half addressed to her; so she only nodded sag

ing, painted white, and looking very neat and trim, with its striped awnings, and its flagged pathway between rows of box. One saw that it

table in the hall. "Miss Bond's niece!" he said, with a nod of explanation and introduction. "Thought she'd come herse

ho bade her welcome, and asked for Miss Bond. "It is some time since she has been here!" she added. "We are always so glad to see her, dear lady. But her kindness comes every week in the lovely fl

yly. "It is just what I wanted, if y

s turned toward the opening door, with a look of pleasure at meeting the matron's cheery smile. Hildegarde opened her great box, and taking up three or four bouquets, moved forward hesitatingly. This was something new to her. She had visited girls of her own age or more, in the New York hospitals, bu

y have little wings, almost like butterflies? When the win

nt blossoms. "Kiss butterf'ies!" she said; and at thi

and burning. She stretched out her hands toward the flowers, and said, "White ones

looked to her for permission, then filled the

nst the burning cheek. "There was a great bed of roses in a lovely garden, and while I was at one end of it, a little humming-bird came to th

, ain't it?" asked

all true, every word. When you are better,

nursing a rubber elephant. He took the roses and said, "Sanks!" very politely, then held them to his pet's gray proboscis. "I's bet

pathetically. "I am very sorry

monia 'n' fits!" was the prompt reply; "

ned gravely. "It seems to be hollow," she sai

"or a brown kitty,-I don't

flowers. I must go away soon, but I shall think of yo

ected reply, in a ton

ustn't tease the young lady, dear. See! the other children ar

wants her to sing. Doctor said I coul

, in a low tone. "I can sing a little

ck and sat down on Benny's bed, and sang, "Up the airy mountain," in a very sweet, clear voice. Several little ones had been tossing about in fever

that glared across the room at the offender. But a soft hand held a cup of milk to hi

;" and then another of dear William Allingham's, whi

, birdie, wi

far and fa

lken coats an

of satin fo

r sleep in

through, thoug

ps gay at d

and wing

, birdie, wi

nes, and am

n a necklace

is pretty bi

r diamonds and

something

ecklace rou

ot sell for a

, birdie, wo

u a dish of

up and an

soft beneath

water be dru

r dish the

wig is the

t paths lie th

rewell to my

de for "getting him off so cleverly. He needed a nap," she said; "and if he thinks we want hi

the matter?" as

dread the day when he must go home to a busy, careless mother and a

r. She held out her hand to Hildegarde, and the girl saw that her eyes were full of tears. "Thank you," she said, "for the song. Another l

lled a "frolic,"-this! She had laughed, and come away as if to some gay party, and now a little child had died almost close beside her. Hildegarde had never been so near death before. The world seemed very dark to her, as she turned away, and followed Mrs. Murray into another room, where the convalescent children were at play. Here, as she took the remaining flowers from the box, little boys and girls came crowding about her, some on crutches, some with slings and bandages, some only p

ed one tiny boy, h

are little faces in them, do you see? They smile

rom the outside of the circl

e sure. Come here, little German boy, and we wil

PLUMPED H

and after some persuasion was induced to sit down in Hildegarde's lap. "See now!" s

urchin, nestling closer to the w

e petals just alike, with the same colors and the same marking. These are the stepmother and her own two daughters; and here, behind, are the two s

cause she's 'feared she won't do her duty by me. She brought me red jelly yesterday, and a noil-cloth bib, so's I wouldn't sp

a, admiringly; "and so b

another shrill voice. "She makes spl

off a mast. He kin drive tacks with it, he kin. When I'm big I'm going to

in triumph. "I pulled it off one day. She was jus

tumbling on her shoulders. "I think it is nearly time for me to go now," she was beginning, when she heard a tiny sob, and looking down, saw a very small creat

Here came

l sit here by the window, and

ings, and-I-wanted-to

ing the tears, and kissing the ro

And another outburst threatene

f things; only you couldn't think of them for a min

oubtful. "Dat

boldly. "Come, now! I had a m

a brightening look of retrospe

I wish I had some. And what ar

ich broadened into a laugh and ended in a chuckle,

" she cried. "And what are you goin

a disdainful laugh. "Wi

aid Hildega

udly. "A atta worky,

th a finger in her mouth. "Please, he's my brother, and we

e little one's shoulder. "The man has come for you, Miss Grahame, and I don't kno

ildren and all. I wish Rose-I wish my friend had come. She would have known; she

he others. And as Hildegarde passed back through the long room where the sick childre

g, Hildegarde passed out, her he